Woodside QB Darius Howell out this week with elbow injury

Woodside quarterback Darius Howell, who dislocated his left elbow last week, will not play in Friday night's game against Denbigh, according to Wolverines coach Danny Dodson.

"Darius is still in a soft cast and a sling," Dodson said Wednesday. "He is getting better, but won't play this week. We hope to have him back next week."

Dodson said either senior Quincy Jones, normally a wide receiver, or freshman Devin Gray will start Friday. Gray was the fourth quarterback Dodson turned to in last week's loss to Phoebus and completed 6-of-11 passes for 139 yards.

Howell was injured on Woodside's seventh play from scrimmage at the end of a 9-yard run. An ambulance was called, and Dodson said doctors put his elbow back into place Friday night at the hospital.

Howell, a junior, has completed 43-of-80 passes for 631 yards this season.

MORE INJURY NOTES

It appears the high school career of Warwick tailback Cardon Johnson is over.

Johnson, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher, hasn't played since Sept. 20, when he injured his neck in a loss to Kecoughtan. Raiders coach Juan Jackson said he doesn't know the exact nature of the injury but confirmed Wednesday that Johnson will not play in the remaining two games.

"Even if we were in a position to make the playoffs, he wouldn't play," Jackson said. "The main thing is (Johnson) making it to college." …

Bethel running back Jihad Hudson, who missed last week's win over Warwick with turf toe, is "very questionable" for Thursday's game against Menchville, Bruins coach Bubba Hooker said.

BUT ON THE BRIGHT SIDE …

After an encouraging 4-1 start, Kecoughtan will miss the playoffs for the 10thconsecutive year. But Warriors coach Alonzo Coley has seen a glimpse of the future with freshman quarterback Desmond Savage.

In his last three games, Savage has completed 20-of-29 passes for 255 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

"He's coming along," Coley said. "We probably should have played him earlier, but we wanted to bring him along slowly and not throw too much at him. He's a good student of the game and a good learner."

NUMBERS AND STUFF

Warwick has been the most penalized team in the Peninsula District this season, with 67 flags in eight games (8.4 per game). Phoebus continues to lead in penalty yards, however, with 579 (72.3 per game). …

How much has Gloucester come to depend on James Scott? He has either rushed or passed on 226 of the Dukes' 368 plays from scrimmage. That's 61 percent. Scott leads all PD rushers with 182 carries, an average of nearly 23 a game.

The Eastern Region has decided that all playoff games will be played on Friday nights. This despite a decision by Norfolk City Schools earlier this month to play all regular-season games on Saturday afternoons. That followed a fatal shooting on Sept. 28, a Friday night, near Booker T. Washington.

QUOTABLES

Heritage coach George Massenburg, on how his alma mater, Hampton High, has influenced him: "I'm a hard guy to play for. I learned from Coach (Mike) Smith. Everything I learned there I've tried to instill here."

Jackson on his 2-6 team's approach to the final two weeks: "We're playing for pride and respect now."